Powder advise for a 280ai.

I also have a 22” barrel with a 1:9 twist. I just reloaded a series with both the Berger 168 VLD’s and the H-ELD-X’s in 162 with 4831sc. I stepped up with .5 increments. I hope to get out this weekend to shoot them.
 
It certainly could. As much difference as any other powder a few steps faster or slower could make. It has a different burning characteristic. Look at the burn rate chart. Could Norma 204, Re-16, Re-17 or VV N550 make a difference? Absolutely. Just because it has the number 4350, don't think that IMR 4350, H 4350 and Accurate 4350 are all the same powder with no differences and are completely interchangeable. Burn rates and pressure curves change barrel harmonics.
Load data from Hodgdon website 280 Ackley, 168 Sierra:
HodgdonH4350
3.330"48.42,62154,500 PSI51.52,73461,800 PSI
IMRIMR 4350
3.330"49.82,63253,100 PSI53.02,76261,100 PSI
Accurate43503.330"56.02,73351,200 PSI59.6C2,92661,900 PSI
Notice any differences in velocities and pressures?
 
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Out today for some testing with my 280ai and 175 berger elite hunter and some hornady 175 eldx .
Peterson brass
Fed 210
4831sc
Finally getting somewhere with the group.
So it seems to like the 175 eldx
.01 off the lands
57.5 gr H4831 SC
Peterson brass
Fed 210
Temp was 106.
2791 fps av and a SD of 7
The gun seems happy and I'm finally getting there.
All shots are off a atlas bi- pod and a rear bag . I'm still not quite happy with the bag so the group could be better.
I brought my 7-08 out also and was banging steel at 200 and 300 .
That gun just works
 

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I shoot the 175g Nosler Long range accubonds, sorted by ogive length, seated .003 off the lands, with PMC 30/06 formed brass, federal 210 primer, 56.0g of IMR 7828 Long cut. Bug holes abound, 27", 9T X caliber, #5 contour with a Gentry muzzle break. This load groups in the very low 3's, and the load really knocks two good holes in a deer or hog, near and far. Sorting by ogive length eliminated flyers for me and my brother.

I tried, CCI 200, Rem 9 1/2. CCI 250, and federal 215s and only Federal 210s would group into a bug hole. I also found the same thing on the std 280 with the same lot of IMR 7828 Long cut with 160s at 2930 fps.
 
I shoot the 175g Nosler Long range accubonds, sorted by ogive length, seated .003 off the lands, with PMC 30/06 formed brass, federal 210 primer, 56.0g of IMR 7828 Long cut. Bug holes abound, 27", 9T X caliber, #5 contour with a Gentry muzzle break. This load groups in the very low 3's, and the load really knocks two good holes in a deer or hog, near and far. Sorting by ogive length eliminated flyers for me and my brother.
What velocity are you getting?
 
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